Bernard Donoughue, Baron Donoughue (born 8 September 1934) is a British politician, businessman and author.
The son of Thomas Joseph Donoughue was educated at Campbell Secondary Modern School and Northampton Grammar School, Lincoln College, Oxford, where he read History and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1957, and Nuffield College, Oxford, where he graduated as a Doctor of Philosophy in 1963.
Donoughue was member of the editorial staff of The Economist in 1959 and 1960. He was senior research officer of the Political and Economic Planning Institute [1] between 1960 and 1963, and senior lecturer, at the London School of Economics (LSE) between 1963 and 1974. As a newly-appointed lecturer at LSE Donoughue had a remarkably youthful appearance; he looked hardly older than his students. His lectures on modern British politics were a nice mixture of scholarship, off the cuff humour, and personal reflection. A Donoughue lecture was very much a 'live' performance. In one lecture he noted (Dr Geoffrey Thomas of the philosophy department, Birkbeck College recalls) that Conservative Central Office had once employed 'a Mr J. Christ', adding : 'We all know that God is on the side of the Conservatives but it comes as a surprise that his son also worked for the party'.
In 1974, he became Senior Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson and in 1976 his successor James Callaghan, and held this office until Labour's defeat in 1979.
From 1979 to 1981, Donoughue was Development Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit, and in 1981 and 1982 assistant editor of The Times until his dismissal by Rupert Murdoch.
He was head of research and investment policy of Grieveson Grant and Co from 1982 to 1986 and head of international research and Director of Kleinwort Grieveson Securities Ltd from 1986 to 1988. Following, Donoughue was executive Vice-Chair of LBI from 1988 to 1991, Director of Towcester Racecourse Ltd from 1992 to 1997 and is Visiting Professor of Government of LSE since 2000. Donoughue is Chairman of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission. On February 20, 2009, it was reported in The Racing Post that he had resigned a paid consultancy position with Paddy Power Bookmakers in order to end any speculation about his impartiality in the SPRC role.
Donoughue was also Chairman of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1979 to 1991, Patron from 1989 to 1995, and has been an Associate since 2000. Between 1999 and 2003, he was Consultant Member of the British Horse Industry Confederation.
On 27 May 1985, he was created a Life Peer as Baron Donoughue, of Ashton in the County of Northamptonshire.
He was an Opposition Labour spokesman for Energy, Heritage and Treasury matters. In 1997, Tony Blair appointed him a Junior Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Increasingly isolated by the Minister Nick Brown and the MAFF Permanent Secretary, he chose to retire in July 1999.
Lord Donoughue was married to Carol Ruth Goodman from 1959 until their divorce in 1989. They have two sons and two daughters.